Swiss minister prunes symbolic vines to honor flood-hit Blatten's recovery
Federal Councillor Martin Pfister visited the world's smallest vineyard in Farinet near Saillon on Saturday. The event highlighted solidarity with Blatten During the ceremony, Pfister pruned three young vines alongside winemaker Caroline Tramaux Rossier. These plants had replaced the original vines last year after heat damage destroyed them. Pfister shared memories of pruning vines in his grandfather's garden as a child.
Mayor of Blatten, Matthias Bellwald, joined the event, symbolising the village's resilience. He irrigated the vineyard with water drawn from the Lonza, a river flowing through Blatten. Together, Pfister and Bellwald laid a flower at the sculpture *Là où fleurit la paix* as a gesture of remembrance. Pfister also acknowledged the broader support shown by the canton of Valais and Switzerland. His visit underscored ongoing efforts to aid Blatten and other communities affected by last year's disasters, including the Crans-Montana flood.
The sale of bottles from the 2025 vintage will directly benefit Blatten's recovery. While the exact number of municipalities offering aid remains unclear, the event reinforced solidarity with those still rebuilding. The vineyard's symbolic pruning marked both a tribute and a step forward for the affected region.
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